Red muscle car with it's bonnet up displaying it's engine on Lonsdale street in Braddon.

The colour of Summernats will travel from EPIC to Braddon for the Summernats Fringe Festival.

03 January 2023

Summernats is back for its 35th instalment with Australia’s best-looking machines hitting the streets of Canberra from 5 to 8 January.

This year is set to be something special with more than 2700 cars entered in this year’s event, and 100,000 revved up fans expected to descend upon Exhibition Park for four days of horsepower, music and competition.

Summernats’ must-see events include:

Fringe Festival Braddon:

The streets of Braddon will be filled with the colour and cars of Summernats as the second Fringe Festival takes place from 6pm-11:00pm on Friday and Saturday night. Entrants can cruise closed streets as admirers take their place on the sidewalk or within the bars and restaurants. Fringe Festival is free for spectators.

Meguiar’s Great Uncover:

On Thursday night at EPIC there will be an unveiling of mega proportions with a line-up of never-seen-before machines on display for the first time.

Aussie rock on the main stage:

The main stage is bringing the heat this year with Aussie rock icons Jon Stevens, Diesel, Darryl Braithwaite and Shannon Noll set to put on a show for motoring fans on Friday night.

Hip-hop legends Bliss n Eso will combine with the Stafford Brothers and Brooke Evers to back up the entertainment on Saturday night.

Skid Row:

Rubber will be burned on Skid Row. Kicking off from 1pm on the first day of Summernats 35, all 2700+ entrants can let their tyres smoke.

Drift Cadet:

Fancy a ride in a Drift Car? Jump in the passenger seat for a ride or leave it to the pros as you watch a drifting demo.

Grab your ticket to Summernats and witness all the action.


Please be aware there will be several street closures and traffic impacts for the festival.

Road Closures and traffic impacts

City Cruise:
Thursday 5 January 2023, 12pm-1pm.

  • Sections of the Federal Highway and Northbourne Avenue will be subject to rolling closures from Flemington Road to the intersection of London Circuit and Northbourne Avenue.

Summernats Fringe Festival:
Friday 6 and Saturday 7 January 2023, 4pm-11:00pm daily.

  • Lonsdale Street, Braddon will be closed between Cooyong Street and Girrahween Street.
  • Mort Street, Braddon will be closed between Cooyong Street and Girrahween Street.
  • Elouera Street, Braddon will be closed between Northbourne Avenue and Torrens Street.

Other road closures: Flemington Road will be closed between the Federal Highway and Randwick Road at the following times:

  • 7 am to midnight on Thursday 5 January 2023
  • 7 am Friday 6 January to 1 am Saturday 7 January 2023
  • 7 am Saturday 7 January to 1 am Sunday 8 January 2023
  • 7 am to 7 pm Sunday 8 January 2023.

Stirling Avenue will be closed between Knox Street and the Federal Highway from 10 am Thursday 5 January to 7 pm Sunday 8 January 2023.


Public Transport

All information relating to travelling to EPIC and planning your trip to Summernats can be found on the Transport ACT website.

Visitors should note that the EPIC Park & Ride will be closed during Summernats, from Thursday 5 January until 7pm Sunday 8 January 2022.

To assist with travel to the event, there will be increased frequency to light rail services during the peak event hours on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 January 2023.

For patrons who do not have a MyWay card, tickets for bus and light rail travel can be purchased from ticket vending machines at all light rail stops, major bus interchanges and the Canberra Airport.

Black car does burnout on Skid Row
Summernats35-OCWeb-Slider-1
Red and green muscle cars with their bonnets up displaying their engines.
Summernats35-OCWeb-Slider-2
Shannon Noll on stage singing to crowd into microphone.
Summernats35-OCWeb-Slider-3
Rear end of red muscle car on display in Braddon.
Summernats35-OCWeb-Slider-5

Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


Central Canberra

Share this article:

Subscribe to the OUR CBR newsletter

Get the latest stories in your inbox